Mountaineer Morning Links: Tuesday (12/4/12) Edition

Welcome, By-Godders, to the Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU's nationally recognized best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions. We're being brought to you today by Miracle Brewing's Ark Angel Ale, in honor of today's Miss Throwdown.

What You May Have Missed:

Gold & Blue Now: Tuesday - WVMETRONEWS.COM
WVU athletics director Oliver Luck pitches the Pinstripe Bowl, Matt Humphrey prepares to get back in the lineup for the Mountaineers, and Coach Bob Huggins lauds Marshall's work on the boards.

CBSSports.com 2012 College Football All-America Team - CBSSports.com
Stedman & Tavon 1st Team, Geno snubbed

Bailey, Austin named All-Americans - Register-Herald
Notebook

Season’s Final Big 12 Football Players of the Week Selected - Big 12 Conference - Official Athletic Site
Lache Seastrunk (Baylor), Geno Smith (West Virginia), Eddie Lackey (Baylor) and Tress Way (Oklahoma) have been chosen the season's final Big 12 Football Players of the Week.

Burnett Named Athlete of the Week - WVU Athletics
Varsity Sports Report: Dec. 3, 2012

Rifle Successful at Air Gun Championships - WVU Athletics
The No. 2-ranked Mountaineers (9-0, 4-0 GARC) have concluded their fall slate. The team returns to the WVU Rifle Range on Jan. 19 to take on Nebraska.

Devin Ebanks Sees First Significant Playing Time In Mike D'Antoni Era - WVU Pros
After sitting at the end of the Lakers' bench over the course of the last month, Devin Ebanks came close to his old role on the team.

WVUPros NFL Week 13 Recap: Don Barclay Steps In - WVU Pros
We recap Week 13 of the NFL regular season highlighting Don Barclay, Bruce Irvin and J.T. Thomas meet in Chicago and more.

News of Note:

Early challenges continue - Charleston Gazette
WVU beginning stretch of 4 games in just 11 days

Mixed Report on Hoops Injuries - WVMETRONEWS.COM
forward Kevin Noreen expected to commence practicing and forward Dominique Rutledge ruled out.

Mountaineers center still has a ways to go - Charleston Daily Mail
"On a scale from 1 to 10," said the 6-foot-10 center, who transferred last year from La Salle, "I'm a 6."

Marshall up next for WVU basketball - Register-Herald
West Virginia University men’s basketball team resumes action with two games this week.

Video: Basketball Interviews 12/3 - BGN
Huggs, Turk & Humphrey

Bowl destinations gone wrong - Charleston Gazette
But join the crowd in lamenting how so many of these bowl games worked out.

Pinstripe a good look for WVU players and fans - Register-Herald
This will be the 11th postseason bowl appearance in a row, an all-time record for West Virginia.

WVU fans start planning trip to Pinstripe Bowl - Charleston Daily Mail
Yeager Airport officials said they were inundated with calls Monday from fans asking about flights to New York City.

Why the Pinstripe Bypassed a Backyard Brawl - WVMETRONEWS.COM
"We just felt that this would be a very, very compelling matchup,"

WVU's Bailey should stick around - Pittsburgh Tribune Review
Why stick around if your skills can enhance your bank account substantially?

Geno has bright future in NFL - Daily Athenaeum
The Mountaineers’ senior quarterback has a powerful and yet accurate right arm, a great understanding of offensive systems, as well as a myriad of intangibles, including his notoriously unshakeable resolve.

Jenkins happy he chose to play at WVU - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
PHS graduate played in final home game

Pinstripe has good matchup - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
West Virginia University fans better get used to it.

Recruiting:

Victory Over Kansas Leads to Successful Recruiting Weekend - WVillustrated
Three 2013 prospects, all of whom are early enrollees in January, were on campus and pledged their commitment to the coaching staff, as did one 2014 prospect who took an unofficial visit

Around the League (and Beyond):

Finishing Strong: How the Bears Turned 2012 Around - Our Daily Bears

Jake Campos changes commitment, now a Cyclone - Cyclone Fanatic

Kansas Football 2012: Quick Hits from a 1-11 Campaign - Rock Chalk Talk

K-State focused on finishing season right - Manhattan Mercury

Two Sooners Reportedly Arrested Early Sunday Morning - Crimson And Cream Machine

DEFENSE STILL WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS - Cowboys Ride For Free

Kyle Hicks Decommits from the Texas Longhorns, Chooses the TCU Horned Frogs - Barking Carnival

Rumor: Contract Extension and Raise In Place For Gary Patterson - Frogs O' War

Tommy Tuberville, Jerry Kill forged relationship at coaching clinics - Lubbock Avalanche Journal

BMOC surveys bowl announcements, Alabama-Georgia, player of the year -- college football - ESPN

What's On Tap:

ESPNU Road Trip Show Airs Tuesday - WVU Athletics
The Morgantown edition of the show ESPNU Road Trip airs Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

WVU Women, Marshall to Battle in Charleston - WVU Athletics
The West Virginia women’s basketball team is set for a 7 p.m. tipoff with Marshall in the Chesapeake Energy Capital Classic at the Charleston Civic Center on Tuesday.

Video of Interest:

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins previews Wednesday night's Chesapeake Energy Capital Classic against Marshall in Charleston.

Coca Cola presents highlights from West Virginia's victory over Kansas on December 1st, 2012.

Video of (Dis)Interest:

Miss Throwdown:

It's the most wonderful time of the year. No, not Christmas....the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is being aired on TV tonight. Today's Miss Throwdown is a reflection of the occasion, as the entire ensemble of Angels are today's Misses Throwdown. CLICK HERE for today's gallery.